A INVESTIGATION is under way after a Lancashire police recruitment advert aimed at the gay community was reproduced with a "homophobic" message.

The advert, with the picture of a Lancashire police woman and a message urging people to join the force, appeared in gay and lesbian publications in 2001.

But over the past week a poster-sized reproduction of the advert has been seen on streets in Glasgow.

The original message has been changed to what police describe as a homophobic message.

Police do not know who is behind the poster but said they view the homophobic content so seriously that they have launched a criminal investigation.

Insp Ian McCann said: "During the last few days we have become aware of posters that have been found in and around the Glasgow area that purport to be from Lancashire Constabulary.

"These are based on a previous Lancashire recruiting campaign from 2001, and shows a woman officer, with text next to it.

"The words initially read as per the recruitment campaign, before changing into an anti-police message, suggesting that people should not join the police service.

"We consider the bogus poster to be a homophobic incident.

"Whilst the production quality of the adverts does not appear to be of the usual standard, some people may be duped into thinking these are official constabulary posters.

"We wish to state that these posters are nothing to do with the Constabulary and the message is contrary to our stance on diversity."